The lavishly illustrated volume presents in dazzling visual detail a highly engaging introduction to almost 2000 years of Chinese history-from the founding of the Chinese Empire in 221 BCE to the Ming dynasty, the last dynasty to rule before the country opened to the outside world in the middle of the seventeenth century. "China" tells this dynamic story through hundreds of breathtaking full-page images of people, landscapes, artworks, artifacts, and more. The inviting, beautifully designed pages feature crisply written, up-to-date text, quotations from ancient sources that establish context for the personalities and episodes for each historic period, extended captions that explore the visual details of the images, information on where to see the images in museums, and more. The book brings together in one convenient place the most significant products of Chinese culture, showing in particular the evolution of the arts, everyday lifestyles, religious beliefs, the coexistence of tradition and innovation, and sacred and profane values. For travelers, students, and general readers of all levels, "China" brings alive a great and ancient empire.

Carol Rama is one of the most exciting artistic rediscoveries of the 20th century. Her creative period spanned more than 70 years - tirelessly testing different materials, styles, and media. Among other things, the artist created a body of graphic works and unique watercolors that will be presented at Berlin's Gutshaus Steglitz. This overview publication on the work of the self-taught artist is being published at the same time. The Italian artist received attention for her unique oeuvre only at an advanced age and posthumously. In the 1940s, Rama caused a sensation with the permissive and, at the time, progressive portrayal of her protagonists. In her late work she returned to the depictions of her youth.